Private Singletrack Heaven in the Farmlands of Cape Town
The Winter rains finally arrived here in Cape Town after about 7 months without any, and we were happy to break out our long forgotten wet weather gear and long sleeves. We headed off to Eselfontein, a very popular peice of MTB heaven, featuring more than 100km of single track, just outside Ceres. Farm owner, trail builder, mountain biker, Enduro rider and all round legend Deon, transformed almost 2500ha of land into a must-do mountain biking experience. From tight single track in the Poplar woods, to river crossings, to elevations higher than the top of Table Mountain with amazing panoramic views, it's got everything.
Riders: Matthieu Hamel and Daniel Dobinson
Experience your own Trail Daze with iRideAfrica.
MENTIONS: @esphotography @irideafrica @evoc
 | Eselfontein is a guaranteed highlight on iRide Africa's 10 day singletrack tours. The farm owner is the perfect example of the generous Afrikaans culture, often popping in for a 'kuier' (a visit with beer in hand!) and pointing us in the direction of new trails that he has built. The fact that there are no plug points, means that phones and modern life distractions quickly get left behind and are replaced with the simplicity of riding, eating and laughing around the dinner table. - Daniel Dobinson |
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 No electricity, just a couple of solar panels and some gas cylinders. The simple life. |
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| Over a 100km of single track among those hills. |
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| Heading out towards the cold and rainy hills. Something we haven't done in a long time. It was a good feeling for a change. |
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| Tight and slippery single track in the moody Poplar forests. The floor is littered with ultra slippery tree roots, camouflaged by a continues layer of leaves. Hit one slightly off-camber and you hit the deck, hard. |
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| Before leaving, I was warned that this next mission was going to be more suited to XC riding and any thoughts of proper Enduro trail should be banished from my prayers. Apart from a couple of long, winding descents, that would be it. Oh ye of little faith. Behold. There are trails in this valley that will make you thank your maker. Epic valley views from 2500m high mountains that stare down upon newly forged descending Enduro MTB trails, became the truth. The mix of fun flowing single track over a variety of different terrain and gradients, made this farm one sizable trail offering. This farm is my new religion. - Rupert von Tutschek |
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| Fossils of sea shells at the highest point of the climb? Apparently it means this was once part of ocean floor a few million years ago. |
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| Peanut butter FTW! |
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| No one likes to ride with wet shoes and pads on day 2. |
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| Our digs. |
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| Day 2. More rain. But the clouds did lift and we were treated to some stunning views. |
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| After 6 months without rain, it was nice to ride in wet conditions. Trails are really interesting in Eselfontein: slippery woods at the bottom, soft ground singletracks at the foot of the mountain and gnarly rock gardens on top! We all enjoyed that diversity, and one more time that was the opportunity to measure the incredible abilities of our bikes! - Matthieu Hamel |
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Riders: Matthieu Hamel and Daniel Dobinson
Experience your own Trail Daze with iRideAfrica.
MENTIONS: @esphotography @irideafrica @evoc
Author Info:
Member since Dec 20, 2011
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24 Comments
- 11 0
headshot
FL (Jun 25, 2015 at 1:25)
Great spot to ride - come on first world bikers with real currencies - this is a cheap trip...
- 3 0
RoverDover
(Jun 25, 2015 at 6:34)
Makes me want to pack up my Morewood and take home to the land of its conception (even if it was born in Taiwan)
- 3 0
irideafrica
(Jun 25, 2015 at 7:10)
Thanks Headshot. With our terribly weak currency- it works out to about $1600 for 10 days of incredible riding, delicious food and great accommodation. RoverDover-your Morewood needs to experience the reason it was made the way it was!
- 3 0
RoverDover
(Jun 25, 2015 at 9:29)
I live in Bromont, My jabula knows Exactly what it was made for!
- 2 0
irideafrica
(Jun 25, 2015 at 10:21)
Touché! Rad bike
- 4 0
Joshtp
(Jun 25, 2015 at 10:48)
£450 Bought me a month of amazing food and plenty of tourist-ing in SA this spring.. I did stay with Family and friends a fair bit.. But it sure is a cheap place to stay (Flights made up for it.. flipping expensive). Amazing, beautiful, crazy country. Love it.
- 5 0
HairyLegs
(Jun 25, 2015 at 2:04)
Great Trails and great area to ride a bike in ..... that farm house is just awesome with great interiors and a huge outside fireplace area.... a must do weekend away riding your bike
- 1 0
Blacko
(Jun 25, 2015 at 3:09)
my parents used to live in pretoria and i did a couple of rides on a HT when i last visited. They've moved onto Russia now and i'm busy growing bigger balls to go riding over in putinland.
I love South Africa, however you fail to show any pictures of the local wildlife....
- 7 0
esphotography
(Jun 25, 2015 at 3:20)
Do you mean wildlife as in the giraffes and lions roaming freely in the streets? There was non to be seen on this trip unfortunately, however I did mention 1 or 2 items of wildlife in our previous outing to the Cederberg: www.pinkbike.com/u/esphotography/blog/trail-daze-cederberg-south-africa--where-it-all-started.html
- 2 0
Blacko
(Jun 25, 2015 at 6:18)
i love it. Thanks for the link to the article!
- 4 0
cptmayhem
(Jun 25, 2015 at 1:18)
Brilliant pics as always, Ewald. Seems as if I need to make my way out there for a bit of a getaway!
- 3 0
singletrack29er
(Jun 25, 2015 at 6:29)
That peanut butter dirt probably gets dusty when it isn't raining for 7 months haha, but looks like you timed it right! Great trip report
- 3 0
Rvont
(Jun 28, 2015 at 1:37)
Great pics Ewald. Who where those other riders. That one guy looks fast. I think he's on the Nomad..;-)
- 2 0
esphotography
(Jun 29, 2015 at 3:12)
Just some chop...
- 4 0
joelNZdh
(Jun 25, 2015 at 0:41)
Meals on wheels
- 2 0
Marko35s
(Jun 25, 2015 at 14:06)
Only if the dassies take on a whole new personaility.
- 4 0
THomer
(Jun 25, 2015 at 0:47)
yoah..., nice.
- 3 0
gaoxiang89
(Jun 25, 2015 at 1:25)
nice.
- 2 0
piman
(Jun 25, 2015 at 21:23)
I just want to say those fossils aren't sea shells. They are brachiopods.
- 1 0
irideafrica
(Jun 26, 2015 at 1:18)
Thanks for that info piman-you learn something new every day!
- 1 0
irideafrica
(Jun 26, 2015 at 1:23)
Now can you tell me anything interesting about the ones in the photo??
- 2 0
piman
(Jun 26, 2015 at 8:28)
I have since forgotten the genus names of them from middle school...
- 2 0
Hellchops
(Jun 25, 2015 at 23:37)
Great pics Ewald! Missing home a bit after reading this...
- 2 0
Mark-M
(Jun 25, 2015 at 7:59)
Great pics Ewald!
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